Truyện Kiều – The Tale of Kieu (Verses 1860-1895)

Truyện Kiều (Câu 1860-1895)

Nguyễn Du

1860
Cuộc vui gảy khúc đoạn tràng ấy chi?
Sao chẳng biết ý tứ gì?
Cho chàng buồn bã tội thì tại ngươi!”
Sinh càng thảm thiết bồi hồi,
Vội vàng gượng nói, gượng cười cho qua.

1865.
Giọt rồng canh đã điểm ba,
Tiểu thư nhìn mặt, dường đà can tâm.
Lòng riêng tấp tểnh mừng thầm:
“Vui này đã bõ đau ngầm xưa nay!”
Sinh thì gan héo ruột đầy,

1870.
Nỗi lòng càng nghĩ càng cay đắng lòng.
Người vào chung gối loan phòng,
Nàng ra tựa bóng đèn giong canh dài:
“Bây giờ mới rõ tăm hơi,
Máu ghen đâu có lạ đời nhà ghen!

1875.
Chước đâu rẽ thúy chia uyên,
Ai ra đường ấy, ai nhìn được ai?
Bây giờ một vực, một trời,
Hết điều khinh trọng, hết lời thị phi.
Nhẹ như bấc, nặng như chì,

1880.
Gỡ cho khỏi nợ, còn gì là duyên!
Lỡ làng chút phận thuyền quyên,
Bể sâu sóng cả có tuyền được vay?”
Một mình âm ỉ đêm chày,
Đĩa dầu vơi, nước mắt đầy năm canh.

1885.
Sớm khuya hầu hạ đài dinh,
Tiểu thư trông mặt đè tình hỏi tra.
Lựa lời nàng mới thưa qua:
“Phải khi mình lại xót xa nỗi mình”.
Tiểu thư hỏi lại Thúc Sinh:

1890.
“Cậy chàng tra lấy thực tình cho nao”.
Sinh đà ruột rát như bào,
Nói ra chẳng tiện, trông vào chẳng đang.
Nhưng e lại lụy đến nàng,
Đánh liều mới khẽ liệu dàng hỏi tra.

(English Version)

The Tale of Kieu (verses 1860-1895)

Author: Nguyễn Du
Translation: Đặng Hoàng Lan

1860. “Why do you play such mournful music for our feast?
How come you can’t be considerate?
If the master is afflicted at all, it is your fault.”
Thuc felt pain and became more miserable than ever.
He was hastily forced to speak and forced to laugh.

1865. The water clock now claimed to be the third watch of the night.
As she looked upon their faces, the lady was filled with joy and pleasure.
She glorified herself in her soul,
“That sweet vengeance made up for my secret pain for a long time”.
As his liver was consumed by sorrow and his intestines filled the resentment.

1870. The longer he thought of KIeu, the more frustration filled his heart,
Then the married couple entered their room together.
Waking up all night alone, Kieu reflected by the glow of the night light,
“Now everything is clearly visible in front of my eyes,
How strange was the envious blood of this woman!

1875. What a plot to separate the two love birds she imagined!
Everyone has a place, how to get back together.
One was quite low and the other too high as the bottom of the valley and the sky.
There will be no more disregard or respect and she is always right, I am wrong.
That debt is as slight as a cork but as heavy as a lead,

1880. But once I pay my debt, how am I supposed to save our love?
Incompleteness for a fragile destiny of a pretty girl.
Will I be rescued from the depths of the sea and the violent waves?”
Her thoughts pervaded her heart all night.
The oil from the lamp soon dried up, while her tears flowed through the night.

1885. As a servant, poor Kieu worked day and night in the mansion.
One day, Hoan Thu saw the sadness on her face and asked why.
Kieu carefully chose his words and responded,
“I sometimes feel sorry for many things in my life.”
The lady turned to Thuc, asking him,

1890. “Could you help him figure out his whole story?”
Sinh felt as if his bowels were torn to pieces,
For he cannot confess or dare to look upon Kieu.
If he told the truth, he was afraid to bring her into it.
He thus decided to put questions to Kieu.